Make Me (9 page)

Alejandro apparently knew his duty, for he glided over to her, dropped to one knee and kissed the outstretched hand. “Lisette, how good to see you again.”

Gag me.

GUESS WE KNOW NOW WHY THEY LEFT ROSA AT HOME, Fang quipped.

Yeah. I couldn’t suppress a grin and Austin shot me a warning look. I shrugged and tried to cultivate a serious expression. It was difficult, though, with this silly farce playing out before us. Jack didn’t seem to think so, though. He appeared fascinated by it all, especially Lisette.

Her four attendants, good-looking blonds all from the same cookie cutter, didn’t look so happy. I privately labeled them Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Tweedledumber and just plain Twee. Mr. Dum, especially, looked as though he wanted to rip Alejandro’s throat out for touching Lisette. Twee looked more interested in Austin.

Speaking of Austin, he became the object of Lisette’s attention now. She slinked up off the lounge and undulated toward him with a predatory gleam in her eye, looking like a real-life version of Jessica Rabbit, the sexy cartoon bombshell from
Roger Rabbit
.

SHE’S NOT BAD, SHE’S JUST DRAWN THAT WAY, Fang said with a snicker.

Yeah, right.

Lisette didn’t spare a glance for the rest of us. Her eyes were all for Austin as she unnecessarily straightened his tie then caressed his chest. His blond studliness certainly fit her type. “Have you come to serve… under me… finally?” she asked, her lips a breath away from his.

Whoa. No wonder they called it vamping. And she was apparently an expert at it. Lola could take lessons from this chick. Not that Lola needed to—all she needed was her innate power. And speaking of Lola, she was getting quite interested in the four hunkalicious hotties over there. I figured it wasn’t cool to snack on your hostess’s flunkies, so I reined her in.

Austin removed Lisette’s hands gently from his jacket and took a step back, straightening his lapels. “No, I must refuse your flattering invitation once again. I am very happy serving under Alejandro.” His flat tone refused to recognize the innuendo.

She pouted but let him go and glided back to Alejandro and the Tweedles. “Too bad,” she said over her shoulder. “We could have such… fun.”

“Sadly,” Alejandro said, “we are not here to have fun.”

She pouted again, but swept an arm invitingly toward the chairs around her. “Please, have a seat.”

I perched on an ornate chair that was as uncomfortable as it looked. Tweedledumber stood behind me, and the others in our party had guards, too, except for Alejandro who sat facing Lisette. She, on the other hand, chose a chair that looked more like a throne.

Seriously? My mouth twitched and Fang nudged me with his nose, giving me a warning look. I bit my lip and controlled my expression. Okay, if she wanted to play queen for a day, I’d go along.

Lisette gave Alejandro a regal, condescending nod. “So, tell me, why have you brought the Slayer into my abode?”

I didn’t think she’d even seen me, much less known who I was. Tension suddenly ratcheted up as her minions focused intently on me. Hey, Lola was up for a little showdown, but I hoped it wasn’t necessary.

“I brought her here to help,” Alejandro said, his voice and gestures soothing.

“Help destroy us?” Lisette challenged, her nostrils flaring.

Sheesh. Did the woman always act as if some hidden camera was filming her every move?

“Not at all,” Alejandro said. “A soothsayer told me that if I led with Ms. Shapiro by my side, I would achieve my heart’s desire.”

Well, Tessa hadn’t actually mentioned my name. That was Alejandro’s interpretation.

“And your heart’s desire is… the New Blood Movement?” Lisette asked.

“Of course,” Alejandro said smoothly.

She nodded. “That is my desire as well. She will… behave while she is here?”

Alejandro smiled at me. “She has given her word to help me. And her word is her bond.”

Unfortunately, true—that darned contract. I gave her an innocent smile and tried to look like an obedient little Slayer. I guess it worked, because Lisette deigned to give me a glance, then apparently dismissed me from her thoughts. Tension eased and she seemed to relax.

Alejandro continued, “You say our friend in the government no longer wishes to help us?”

“That is correct. He doesn’t feel the timing is right.”

“But the legislature doesn’t convene again until January,” Alejandro protested. “How does he know the timing isn’t right?”

She shrugged. “I’ll let him answer for himself. Boys?”

Tweedledee evidently took that as a signal, because he crossed the room to another door and beckoned to someone beyond it. A man—a definite suit type with a photogenic face—came in, straightening his tie. It seemed everyone knew who he was but me and maybe Jack, because they didn’t introduce him.

Alejandro shook his hand and Lisette gestured him to a seat. Alejandro turned to face him. “I thought you were spending the holidays talking to the legislators and working on our behalf to convince them to legalize the Movement.”

The man shook his head. “I planned to, but this is a bad time. Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?” the vampire leader asked.

“There are reports of
chupacabras
terrorizing Austin.”

Huh? What was a
chupacabra
?

Fang shrugged. BEATS ME.

“
Chupacabras
?” Alejandro repeated, his eyebrows raised. Turning to us, he said, as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself, “In English, that means goat-sucker.”

I couldn’t help it. I let out a choke of laughter.

The legislator glared at me. “It is no laughing matter. Goats, deer, dogs… they have all been found drained of blood on the outskirts of the capital. We’re lucky the media is blaming a mythical creature instead of vampires, but if you reveal yourselves to the public now, the attention may shift to you… and not in a good way.”

Oh.

“Has anyone actually seen one of these chupacabras?” Alejandro asked in distaste.

“Not a reliable account. Just a midnight encounter. If we are to believe the witness, the creature is ten feet tall, grotesque, faster than lightning, and all fangs and claws. Ridiculous.”

“What have you done about it?” Lisette asked.

The man shrugged. “We are investigating, and I am subtly encouraging belief in this creature to turn attention away from you. But unless this threat is dealt with, public hysteria cannot be far behind.” He paused, then said, “I know it wouldn’t be anyone in the Movement, but do you think it could be some rogue vampires?”

Very politic of him, but rogues would go for humans, not animals.

“Very possible,” Lisette said. “With Alejandro’s help, we shall take care of this threat for you.”

The suit stood and smiled. “Thank you.” He leaned forward and they held a furtive whispered conversation for a few moments, then he nodded and left.

Wonder what that was all about?

HE PROPOSITIONED HER FOR TONIGHT AND SHE POLITELY DECLINED, Fang told me. At my startled look, he added, NO, HE’S NOT A DEMON. I CAN’T READ HIS MIND. I JUST HAVE GOOD EARS.

Once the suit had left, Alejandro said, “You know it is unlikely to be rogues. What do you think it is? Do you believe in this cartoon monster?”

Lisette shook her head, then glanced away, looking pained. “We have… three members who have gone missing, right around the time of the ‘chupacabra’ attacks. I don’t think they would do such a thing, but it cannot be discounted.”

Yep, three crazed vamps would account for it.

“Who?” Alejandro asked.

“Etienne, Ronald, and…” she glanced apologetically at Austin, “. . . Wes.”

“No.” The single word exploded out of Austin like a gunshot. “I sired Wes. I know him. He would never do such a thing.”

“Nor would Ronald and Etienne,” Lisette said. “But the fact remains, they are missing, and we cannot find a sign of them.”

“Are you certain?” Jack asked. “People can change—”

“Highly improbable,” Alejandro confirmed. “Once they are turned, people become more of what they were as humans, not less.”

“Yes,” Austin added. “Wes was a kind, gentle man as a human, and no less so as a vampire. I can’t see him draining livestock.”

“Nor can we,” Lisette said.

Jack shrugged, seeming unafraid of the bloodsuckers. “Perhaps someone is forcing them to hunt, or is imprisoning them so the blame will fall on them later. There could be other reasons.”

Lisette nodded. “That is why we allowed you to come. Perhaps between us, we can learn what this creature is and stop it before it ruins things for all of us.” She glanced at me. “You seem to enjoy killing things. Perhaps you would assist us in tracking these creatures down and eliminating them?”

Now that was just insulting. All they ever wanted from me was lust or death. If they were going to treat me like this, I wanted something out of it, too. And I knew just the thing. “It’s not in my contract,” I told her with a fake smile.

TAKE THAT, YOU BLOODSUCKER, Fang exclaimed.

Austin made an abortive movement, like he wanted to grab me but restrained himself. “Val, please, you must help us. She’s right—you and Fang are very good at this sort of thing.”

Fang nudged me with his nose. HE’S GOT YOU THERE.

Alejandro gazed at me sternly. “The contract states that you agree to help us reveal ourselves. We won’t be able to do that until the menace is abated. Surely, you see that this is related, an integral part of our agreement.”

Exactly what I thought he’d say. “That’s open to interpretation. Shall we have our lawyers get together and discuss it?”

“Val—” Austin began to protest, but I cut him off.

“Never mind. Tell you what—I’ll make you a deal. If I find this so-called chupacabra for you and kill it, you terminate the contract.”

OH, GOOD PLAY.

Alejandro frowned. “I may need your services in the future, too.”

I shrugged. “And if you ask real nice and don’t treat me like a filthy assassin, I might even say yes.”

PLUS THE MONEY, Fang said. DON’T FORGET THE MONEY.

Don’t worry, I won’t.

Alejandro regarded me gravely for a moment, and I could see Lisette and Austin urging him silently to take the deal. “Very well,” he said reluctantly. “You have my word.”

“Good.” I turned to Lisette. “And if the chupacabra happens to be one of your people? Do you still want me to kill it?”

She looked uncertain for the first time since I’d met her. “I am not comfortable with you making that choice. You will take the boys with you—”

“No way. I work alone or not at all.”

She bristled, and Austin said, “Maybe a compromise?” When we both turned to face him, he added, “You’ve worked with a partner before, Val, so how about you take me on? You know how well we spar together.”

He gave me one of those raised eyebrow looks, and I knew he was reminding me that my powers were gone and that I could use someone with his speed and strength. Dang it, he was right, too. But I still hesitated, not wanting to give in too soon.

“I would consider it a personal favor,” Austin said softly, almost formally.